Griswold, who's family notified the district of her death on Thursday, held the Trustee Area 5 seat and served as board clerk.

First, board members will vote to elect a new board clerk. After a board clerk has been appointed, trustees will have to decide how they want to fill the seat. They have options, but only one option will help save money.

"The first option is the board can hold a special election, which would occur in November," Superintendent Todd Oto said

According to state bylaws, a district can only hold a special election during certain times throughout the year, Oto said.

The second option, and the most frugal, would be to appoint a provisional board member to serve in the interim until the November election, when multiple candidates could run.

"In that process, the board selects a board member from the community," Oto said. "They must be in the trustee area, and complete an application."

A sub-committee will then be created and applicants will go through a public interview. The board's decision on the appointment must also be made in public.

The application, interview and decision process must take place in 60 days — June 4 — from when the position became vacant.

Trustee Area 5 is located in southcentral Visalia and sits between Highway 198 and Caldwell Avenue and Demaree and Santa Fe streets.

The last time the board was faced with replacing a board member was in 2002 when Niessen Foster resigned, Oto said.

Patricia Griswold(Photo: Visalia Unified School District)

Griswold, a special education teacher, was elected as the Area 5 trustee in November 2016. She won with more than 50 percent of the vote.

"She had a passion for education and brought great value and dedication to the district and the Visalia community, and she will be greatly missed," said Assistant Superintendent Tamara Ravalin. "We extend our deepest condolences to Patricia’s family and friends."

Griswold has three children and is married to Fresno Bee reporter, Lewis Griswold. They have three children.